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Local communities to reaffirm support for area military

By Steve Ramirez/sramirez@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
01/18/2013 02:47:36 PM MST

LAS CRUCES — A recommitment by local communities to support military service members and their families stationed at White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and Fort Bliss will be made today.

Civic leaders, representatives of New Mexico's congressional delegations, and leaders of the region's three military installations will sign a Military Community Covenant at halftime of today's men's college basketball game between San Jose State University and New Mexico State University. The game begins at 7 p.m. at the Pan American Center.

Brig. Gen. Gwen Bingham, WSMR commander, said the pledge is important. It reaffirms what she has said on several occasions since assuming command at WSMR in September.

"Nothing inside our gates can happen without the support of our communities outside our gates," Bingham said. "We couldn't successfully complete our mission without the help and support our local communities have given us, and continue to give us."

A special bond has been forged between WSMR and Las Cruces, Alamogordo and El Paso, she said.

"These particular communities have particularly embraced White Sands more so than any place I've ever been," Bingham said. "All but one business sector offers military discounts to our personnel and their families, and that is extremely important to them. That means a lot to our men and women.

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The parties involved in the symbolic agreement are: the city of Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces Public Schools, the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces, the city of Alamogordo, New Mexico National Guard, White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base and Fort Bliss.

"This signing will be a reaffirmation of what we did in 2008," said Bill Connor, a member of the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee, referring to a previous agreement. "With the new leadership at these military installations, we felt it was important for all of us to renew that commitment. There's new initiatives that we've started work on, such as a joint land-use study, and those are going to be mutually beneficial. As neighboring communities, we want to make sure we are compatible with the important ongoing, and future, military missions."

Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army Installations, Environment and Logistics, said the relationships forged between the military and surrounding communities is vital.

"It amazes me the way the communities here embrace and step up," said Hammack.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452. Follow him on Twitter @SteveRamirez6

Details: The signing will be at halftime of the San Jose State vs. NMSU men's basketball game. Community leaders, New Mexico's congressional delegation, and military leaders from White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base and Fort Bliss will sign a formal commitment of support for military service members and their families.